Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI-powered assistant integrated directly into Microsoft 365 apps — including Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and others. This tool is designed for faculty and staff who want an AI tool that can interact with your documents, emails, and meeting content. Because it works with your Microsoft 365 data, Copilot can provide personalized, context-aware assistance based on your files, emails, and calendar and provides enterprise data protection.
Note: Access to Copilot Chat is also available to UI faculty, staff, and students at no additional cost. However, Copilot Chat does not connect to your Microsoft 365 data. Some general differences between Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot are listed below.
| Copilot Chat | Microsoft 365 Copilot |
|---|---|
| Enterprise data protection - appropriate for use with data labeled "University Internal". | Enterprise data protection - appropriate for use with data labeled "University Internal". |
| Conversational AI assistant accessed via the web. | Conversational AI assistant that is embedded in Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.) |
| Ideal for brainstorming, summarizing, coding, image generation, and Q&A | Ideal for drafting documents, analyzing spreadsheets, summarizing emails |
| Accesses only publicly-available internet data | Works with your Microsoft 365 data (email, OneDrive, Teams, etc.) |
| No access to Microsoft 365 content | Requires an elevated license with additional cost |
| Available to all UI faculty, staff, and students | Available with an additional license to faculty and staff. |
To view other AI tools available to University of Iowa employees, view the AI tools page.
Who Can Use Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Microsoft 365 Copilot is available to:
- Faculty and staff
- Additional license and cost applies
How to Get Started
- To request a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, contact your IT Leader.
- Learn how to use Microsoft 365 Copilot
- How to use Microsoft 365 Copilot in Teams
- How to use Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word
- How to use Microsoft 365 Copilot in Excel
- How to use Microsoft 365 Copilot in PowerPoint
- How to use Microsoft 365 Copilot in Outlook
Overview
Fees
Annual license: $420 per user
NOTE: The order form should be completed by an IT Director or designee. Contact your ETS personnel or IT Director to request this software. Approval for purchase is required.